Automatic feeder for presses



Aug. 3, 1965 A. J. HARVEY AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR PRESSES Aug. 3, 1965 A. J. HARVEY 3,198,115

AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR PRESSES Filed May 14, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,198,115 AUTGMATEC FEEDER FUR PRESSES Albert J. Harvey, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Engraved Stationery Manufacturers Research Institute, Inc.,

Washington, D.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,530 8 Claims. (Cl. lOl-316) My inv-ent-ion relates generally to improvements in engraving and printing presses and the like, and more particularly to an automatic feeder for a -press with a reciprocating head.

My invention is adapted particularly to be used with an engraving machine having a vertically movable pressure head that engages an engraving die. lt is capable of being used with any one of a variety of presses of known construction. A minimum of time and effort is required to adapt my improved feeder for use with any particular press.

It is conventional practice to insert a specimen to be engraved into the path of motion of the movable pressure heady in timed sequence with Ithe operating cycle of the press. Suitable guides or fixtures are provided to position the specimen properly. This manual procedure makes it necessary to adopt relatively slow operating speeds and requires the full time and attention of the operator. Because of the lack of a means for swiftly and automatically feeding such presses and discharging the specimen after it is engraved, processes of this type heretofore have been relatively expensive.

The provision of an improved automatic feeder for presses being a principal object of my invention, it is a further object of my invention to provide a mechanism that -is capable of carrying a specimen from one location to the vicinity of the -reciprocating head and holding the same in a proper position during the engraving operation. After the head is withdrawn from the engraving die, the mechanism then removes 4the `specimen and positions it at a final station where it may be conveyed through a suitable -dryer before it is stacked. I contemplate that my improved feeder mechanism can be used in cooperation with any one of a variety of feeder mechanisms that normally would be employed with automatic printing presses.

lt is a further object of my invention to provide a feeder mechanism of the type above set forth wherein provision is made for conveniently adjusting the position of the specimen without interrupting operation.

1t is a further object of my invention to provide' an automatic feeder of the type above set forth wherein a conveyor chain is employed for carrying the specimen from one station to a position within the path of movement of the pressure head, and then subsequently conveying the specimen to a third station after the head has been retracted.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a chain type conveyor of the type above set forth that is adapted to receive a specimen from a conventional printing press feeder and convey it to each of the two or more subsequent operating stations. A pause in the motion of the specimen takes place at each station Ito allow an appropriate operation t-o take place.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an automatic feeder of the type above set forth wherein the control functions are accomplished in response to movement of a reciprocating portion of the engraving press.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a feeder of the type above set forth which can be operated at any desired speed that is determined bythe speed of voperation ofthe press with which it is used.

y nIt is important in the engraving art to index properly the specimen with respect to the engraving die and to maintain this specimen precisely in the indexed position during the portion of the cycle in which the engraving operation takes place. Proper indexing is especially important when multiple colors are used in the engraving operation. A separate die is required for each color. The image produced by one die must register properly with the image produced by another die so that the composite image will be precise.

It is therefore a further object of my invention to provide a feeder for an engraving press tha-t will provide the precise indexing of the specimen that is required.

lf the engraving operation includes the use of ink, care must be taken to avoid smearing of the image before the ing dries. Provision then must be made for positioning the specimen following t-he engraving operation so that the drying operation can take place before the final stack- -ing operation. AIt is therefore a further object of my invention to provide a feeder for an engraving press that will deposit the specimen following the engraving operation in a position with the image facing upwardly so that it may be dried .as it is conveyed to a final stacking position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a feeder capable of carrying out multiple engraving operations during one continuous operating cycle. I contemplate that my improved feeder will be capable of feeding simultaneously a specimen to two or more engraving presses, each press having a die that produces a part of the final composite image.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an engraving press feeder having a conveyor chan of the type above set forth wherein provision is made for registering properly the .specimen in suitable grippers carried by thechain.

Further objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l shows an isometric form composite assembly view of my improved feeder mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a schematic View of the engraving press,

FIG. 3 is a detailed ysub-assembly View of the stripper construction for removing the specimen from the conveyor chain after the engraving operation is completed;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a portion of the conveyor chain in the region of the engraving head;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the conveyor platform in a centralized position.

Referring first to FIG. 1, numeral 10 designates a reciprocating pressure head for an engraving press. The press is indicated generally by reference character 12. The head includes a pressure pad 14 that may be dovetailed within a cooperating retainer groove in the head and retained therein by a holding screw 316.

The head lit is carried by a reciprocating member 18 that is slidably received within the upper portion 2t) of an engraving press yoke 22. An inked engraving die plate is shown at 24 and is adapted to reciprocate transversely in the direction of the arrow 26. The -reciprocation of the head l@ and the transverse reciprocation of the die plate 2,4 are accomplished in any conventional fashion. For this reason the drive mechanism for the engraving press has not been illustrated specifically.

l have illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 a portion of the interna-l press structure. It includes a base 28y and a frame 3f). Rotatably mounted upon the frame 30 is a roll of fresh paper 32 and a roll of waste paper 34. The fresh paper is trained through cooperating drive rollers 35 and 3o. lIt then is passed under a wiping pad 37 and returned to the waste roll 34. The wiping pad 37 may include a cushioned surface under which the paper is positioned. A suitable adjustment may be provided for Patented Aug'. 3, 1965 jcoupling mechanism 60.

respect to the base 28.

The die plate 24 can be reciprocated in the direction of the` arrow 38 to the position shown byrmeans of phantom lines. When it is so positioned, a die ink roller 39 is moved from the position. shown in FIG. 2 by means of full lines to the position shown by means of phantom lines. When it assumes the latter 'position the die ink rollerpasses over the surface Yof the die plate 24, thusv applying a surface of inkto the latter. When the engraving die plate 24 then is returned to the position shown in FIG. 2, `the die ink roller is returned .to the position shown by means of full lines in FIG. 2. Upon its return to the position shown, the engraving die is engaged in an ink reservoir 41 and are driven by the engraving press drive mechanism. Thus the .ink that is transferred to the fountain rollers is in turn transferred to the ink roller 39. i g As the engraving die moves to a left hand position as viewed in FIG. 2, the ink roller passes over the surface 4 shaft 82 carries a gear wheel 84 that meshes with idler wheel 86. A drivingvgear 88 in turn meshes with idler wheel 86 to power the shaft 82 and the roller 78. The gear wheel 88 is fixed to shaft 48 and is powered, therefore, bymotor '72 through the chains 68 and 576 and the associated sprocket wheels.V

Shaft 80 is journalled at each end in rocker arms 90 and 92 that in turn are pivoted tov stationary portions 94 and 96 of the feeder assembly. y

A plurality of gate bars 98. are carried by a bar 100l that is journalled for oscillation. One end of the bar 100 carries an actuator lever 102 that is spring urged by means of spring 164 in a clockwise direction. The end of lever 192 engages arms 90 t-o .urge normally the roller 76 toward an inoperative position out of engagement with roller A conventional automatic feeder can be'used for supplying the specimen tothe rollers 76 and 7 8. If the specimen to be printed is a card, the automaticfeeder places the card on top of the roll 78 so that the weight of the lcard will create a slight forward thrust due to the rotation of the engraving die as explained previously. Upon its return the engraving die is wiped by the paper disposed under the wiping pad. The surface of the engraving die has a mirror-like finish and the inkl that is transferred to it by the die ink roller 39 then is wiped off the die and transferred to the paper thus leaving the ink deposited only in the etching. Y

The paper for the wiping Vpad passes across the wiping pad with an indexing motion. This motion is imparted to the paper and the rolls 32 and 34 by thepdrive mechanism for the engraving press. Likewise the oscillating motion of the carrier for the ink roller 39is obtained by they ofthe roller 78. Forward motion -of the card, however, is inhibited by the gate bars 98. f

located at the opposite end of the frame members. 42 and 44 is an extension generally identified by reference character 106. It includes side members 108 and 1710`that are received within the frame members 42 and 44, respectively. are formed of hollow channel construction for receiving the. members 108 and 110. Adjustable connecting structure, vnot shown, isv provided for positioning the members 10S land 11) as shown. Y

A pair of sprocket wheels 112 Vand 114 is journalled at outer ends of members V108 and *110, respectively. A shaft 116 supports the sprocket wheels 114 and 112 as indicated.

A pair of delivery chains isshown at 118 and 120. Chain 118 is trained over sprocket wheels 54 and 112 and extends in a direction generally parallel to members 42 by the base V28 of the press 12. The members 42Vand 44 l s members 42 and 44 and supports a driving sprocket 50y and a sprocket wheel 52. Another sprocket wheel shown .Y

at 54 is situated in juxtaposition with respect to Asprocket wheel 52.

A driving chain 56 is trained over sprocket 50 and another sprocket 58, This sprocket 58v isgcoupled to a friction couplingr60 by means of the shaft 62. Coupling 60 includes a driving member 64 and a driven member'66 to l Vwhich shaft 62 is secured. Driving member 64 is formed with peripheral sprocket teeth about which a driving 'chainV 68 is trained. A sprocket wheel 70 powered by a variableV thus feeding power tothe Y speed motor 72 drives chain 68,

I contemplate that the couplingrnmechanism 60 can be a Vfriction coupling that may slip under a predetermined` torque. A fluid coupling, however, 'could be employed alsor if this were desired. Springs 74 are adaptedtourge members 64 and 66 into frictional driving engagement. If, however, the torque transmitting requirements of the coupling mechanism 60 exceed its capacity, the members and 44. In similar fashion, chainv 120 is trained over sprocket wheels 52 and 114 in substantially parallel relationship with respect to chain 118. An idler wheel 122 engages chain 118 on the lower side ,thereof and an idler wheel 124 engages chain 120 in a similar fashion. Each wheel 122 and 124 can be urged into engagement with its Yrespective chain to provide a controlled degree of tension in the chains.V For example, idler ,sprocket wheel 124 can be carried upon'the lever arm 126 that is pinned to frame member 44 at128. li .A tension spring 130 urges the lever arm 126 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus vplacing therchain l120 under tension. Y f

A guideV plate 132 is disposed transversely across the top of frame members'42 and 44.V vIt can be supported by a bracket 134 welded orY otherwise secured to the side of frame member Y42. The transverse position of the plate 132 with respect to the frame members 42 and 44 can be adjusted manually by Ymeans ofa set screw 136 that is received within an elongated slot in plate 132. Plate 132 carries guide rollers 138 and 140 that vengage the chains 118 and 1,20, respectively, thus positioning the chains in a proper transverseposition with respect to theframe members 42 and 44.` f j Another guide plate 142 is situated on top of frame members 42 and 447m a transverse direction. It carries guide rollers 144 and 146 that engage the chains 118 and 120, respectively, thus positioningthe chains in `a fashion These frame members 42 and 44 preferably f adjusting block 154 is secured also to the side or frame member 42 and it threadably receives an adjusting screw 156 that is journalled within the body 148. The screw 156 can rotate within the body 148 although the axial movement of the screw 156 with respect to body 148 is inhibited. Thus, when screw 156 is rotated, the body 148 will be adjusted longitudinally along the guide bar 152 carrying the plate 142 during such an adjustment which adjustment may be readily and precisely accomplished Without interrupting the normal operation of the apparatus.

The plate 142 can be adjusted transversely with respect to the body 148 by means of an adjusting screw 158. This screw is threadably received within a suitable threaded opening in the body 148 and is connected to a flanged portion 161) of the plate 142. Relative rotation of the screw 158 with respect to the flanged portion 168 can be accommodated, although relative transverse movement with respect thereto is inhibited. Thus when the screw 158 is adjusted, the plate 142 and the chains 118 and 120 can be adjusted to a proper transverse position with respect to the reciprocating head 18. If adjustment at a spaced location is desired, this can be accomplished by means of the plate 132 and the set screw 136. Fine adjustments, however, can be obtained by appropriately positioning the plate 142 by means of the screw 158. The adjustment provided by plate 132 is needed only if the longitudinal dimension of the specimen is unusually large. f In FIGS. 4 and 5, I have illustrated one of a series of specimen carrying platforms generally identied by reference character 162. This platform comprises a series of bars 164 that are pinned at either end thereof to the chains 11S and 128. The pinned connections are identified, respectively, by reference characters 166 and 168. When the platform 162 assumes the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bars 164 are situated in a common plane so that they are capable of supporting -a specimen to be engraved.

It will be apparent from an inspection of FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the showing of the deflection of the chains 118 and 126 is considerably exaggerated, that the platform 162 is properly positioned by the guide rollers 144 and 146 when it approaches the central position in the region of the reciprocating head 16. As it approaches this position, the bars 164 can shift longitudinally with respect to each other. An index element 178 can be carried by the last of kthe series of bars 164 to assist in positioning the specimen on the platform 162 throughout the operating cycle. The

,opposite margin of the specimen is received within grippers or clips 172 and 174. A detail of the gripper 174 is shown in FIG. 3. The grippers 172 and 174, however, are identical in construction.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, the gripper 174 is generally of U-shaped construction and it comprises a portion 176 located on the underside ofthe platform 162. The portion 176 is spring urged by means of spring 178 away from the platform 162. The other portion 180 of the gripper 174 engages the paper or specimen and clamps it against the upper surface of the platform 164. The forward bar 164 can be recessed to provide a suitable opening at the margin of the next adjacent bar to accommodate the gripper 174.

As one of the platforms 162 negotiates the turn around the sprocket wheels 54 and 52, portion 176 of the gripper 174 engages a roller 182 thus causing a Spring 178 to become compressed. This moves the upper portion 180 into a released position so that it is adapted to receive a paper specimen from the automatic feeder referred to previously. Simultaneously with the release of the gripper 174, the forward bar 164 of the platform 162 engages a roller 184 an adjusting screw 192 can be provided on the end of the arm 186 so that the latter Will engage the bar 190 at the proper instant. Thus when the platform 162 is brought into the position shown in FIG. l, the arm 186 is pivoted in a clockwise direction thus causing arms and 92 to move in a counter-clockwise direction. This in turn causes the rollers 76 to engage rollers 78. At the same instant, however, lever arm 102 is adapted to move against the opposing force of the spring 104 to oscillate the bar in a counter-clockwise direction. This causes the gate bars 98 to become retracted thus allowing the paper specimen to be iserted into the released gripper 174 and 172.

A similar roller 194 is provided for the gripper 172 to cause it to be released at the same instant as the release of gripper 174. Prior to the time one of the platforms 162 reaches the position shown in FIG. l, the gate bars 98 will prevent forward motion of the paper specimen. Although the rollers 78 rotate continuously by reason of the driving motion provided by the motor 72, the specimen remains stationary.

As soon as a platform 162 reaches the position shown in FIG. 1, however, frictiona-l contact between the roller-s 76 and 78 will cause a forward feeding motion of the paper specimen into the grippers 174 and 172. After the grippers pass their respective rollers 182 and 194, they will move under the inuence of the springs 178 to clamp the specimen upon the platform 162. It is then carried toward the reciprocating head 10 by the chains 118 and 120. As the roller 184 leaves contact with the platform 162, the gate bars 98 return to the blocking position. Motion of the specimen continues until the forward bar 164 engages a pair of stops shown at 196 and 198. These stops are carried by a rigid bar 280 that in turn is end supported in the body 148 of the control assembly 150. Carried also by the shaft 200 within the body 148 is a blocker member 202 having an abutment 284 that engages a cooperating blocker member 286. This member 206 in turn is carried by a shaft 288 disposed within the body 148. It is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a spring 218` located within the body 148.

Upon engagement of the forward bar 164 with the stops 196 and 198, the motion of the chains 118 and 12@ immediately ceases. This, of course, will cause the clutch .structure 60 to slip although the driving element 64 will be driven continuously by the motor 72.

The motor 72 and clutch structure 6i) are used also to power the automatic feeder that delivers the specimen to the rollers 76 and 78. Thus when the forward bar 164 on the platform 162 engages the stops 196 and 198, the automatic feeder will cease operation immediately since driving motion of the chain 56 and the associated sprockets will cease.

It thus will be apparent that the specimen carried by a platform 162 will come to a stop at a region within the path of reciprocation of the pressure pad 14. At this instant also the plate 24 is in position under the head 1t).

As previously explained, the plate 24 moves transversely, each reciprocation of the head 1t) being accompanied by a transverse reciprocation of the plate 24.

When the plate 24 moves to the position shown in FIG. 1 prior to engagement with the head 10 with the specimen, it engages a bar 212 that is slidably mounted within two eyelets or brackets 214 and 216 on a portion of the body 148 of the control assembly 150. Suitable brackets 218 can be provided for suitably positioning the bar 212 in the path of reciprocation of the plate 24.

Carried upon bar 212 is an adjustable trigger member 220 that includes a finger 222 spring urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, by a control spring 224. The bar is urged in a left-hand direction aS viewed in FIG. 1 by a spring 226 situated between the member 220 and the eyelet 214.

The nger 222 is adapted to engage a roller 228 carried by a lever 230 that is pinned to a support bracket 232.

7 Y An adjustable stop 234 carried by'the body 148 can be providedfor limiting the motion of the arm 230 in a clockwise direction about its pivot point. j

Rotation of the finger 222 in a .counter-clockwise direction about its pivot point is'limited by a shoulder 236 that is adapted to engagea cooperating part of the member 229. Thus when the bar 212 is shifted by the plate 24 in a right-hand direction as viewed inFIG. 1, the finger 222 will ride over-the roller 228. withoutany diiiiculty. Y The spring 224'will yield for this purpose. When th-e pressure pad engages the. specimenandris returned to an upward position,y the plate 24 th'enis retracted. This will canse the bar 212 to move in a left-hand direction. AThe spring other' then will shift with respect to the stationary chain until the Vplatform registers precisely with the stops 196 and 198. Y

Registrationr of the platform in a transverse direction is 'accomplished lby the rollers 144 and 138. These roll-` ers are of sufficient width to'engage the adjacent edge of the platform 162'as the latter is conveyed by the chains i during the operating cycle. VIn those instances when the v226 therefore will, cause `the linger 22) to engage the roller 228 and to tend to oscillate the arm 230 in acoun- Y ter-clockwise direction. Thismotion actuates a Vmicroswitch shown at 238. When it is so actuated, switch 258V closes, a solenoid circuit` shown in part at240. This circuitincludes an electrical solenoid coil 242'having aV plunger 2744. Whenfthe solenoid coil 242 is energized blocker member 2% moves about the axis ofshaft208,

thus allowing the member 202 to oscillateV in-arclockwise direction about its axis. Thusthe members 196 and 198 will be permitted to rotate in a clockwise direction together with the shaft 26d upon which they are mounted. Thisl will release the pltform 'and the chain then will deliver the specimen to a finalY position at the extreme left-hand end of the chain circuit. It should be remembered, of course,

that the driving action ofthe motor 72 is continuous andY that when the members196 and 198 are released, the torque delivered to the chain through kthe slipping clutch structure 60 immediately causes the chain to .continue its motion.

As the platform approaches the extreme .left-hand posi- Y tion, the portion 176 of the gripper 174'engages a roller 2li6.V As. the grippers negotiate the turn around the sprocket wheels112 and 114, the portion 176 will come in contact with the roller 246 thus compressing spring V l 42. vThisroller 264 engages the longitudinal dimension of the specimen is not large, proper registration can be accomplished by means of the roller .144. There then would'be lnofneed for adjustably posivtioning the roller 13S. l Y mension of the specimen is relatively large-for example,

If, however, the longitudinal diif the specimen is a full size letter envelopethe secondary'registration provided by the roller 138 is desirable. It is necessary in such a case to provide the index element 170 that can be received within the cooperating elongated slot in the last ofthe series of plates 164 for the platform 162. As the-last plate `164 is indexed by the roller 138, the 'element170 engages the specimen, thus assisting in the transverse registration of the specimen during the engraving operation. Y l

Since proper registration of the specimen during the en 'graving operation depends upon the accuracy with which the specimen is received by the grippers, yanother guide roller 264 is provided at the right hand side of the frame forward bar-164 as the `specimen is received by the grippers. This guide roller Y264 is of suflicient width to permit engagement of the adjacent' margin. of ,theplatform 162 with its peripheral surface.

The 'conventionalfeeder that delivers thespec1men to Y the rollers '76 and 78 provides proper registering of the specimen in a conventional fashion. This accurate regis- ,tration' then is continuedfby. reasonof the high degree of control ofthetransverse position ofthe forward platform bar at the instant the specimen is received by the grippers.

Further, there is no limitation upon Similarly, a roller 256 is provided for the gripper V172. j f

This roller 256 corresponds in function to the roller.'y The thickness of the forward bar 164 may be greaterthan the thickness of the-next adjacent bar so that a shoulder for the specimen Will be provided.

It will be observed that the paper specimen will be discharged by the stripperbars on the left-hand side of the chain circuit'with the image facing upwardly. Thus when the specimenris discharged, it can be deposited'upon a moving conveyor belt and then carried to a final position rwhere it can ,be stacked automatically as itis. dropped 1 `by the conveyor belt. During the vtransfer 'from the conveyor chain to the stacking location, heat lamps can be trained upon the conveyor belt to dryV the ink if the engraving involves the use of ink. a v ,n a. j The engraving operation is completely automaticfrom start to finish. It doesvnot require .the attention of the operator once the operation Vis established. ,The speed of l operation 'can be varied as desired byA making the necessary adjustments in the openingspeed of the press itself.

The sprocket shaft 48 uponl which.sprocketwheels`52 and 54 are supported isdrivably connected to sprocket whels 52 and V5d by means yof-driving dogsv 25,8; These -dog's are connected resilienvtly to a cooperation projection be varied as desired. the length of the chain itself. Each of the'plat'forms will move with an indexing motion from one end of the chain circuit to the other.' After the platforms reach the extreme left hand portion of the chain circuit, the specimen is deposited,

The number of platforms used can as previously explained, With the image facing upwardly.

The number of-presses that a single feeder mechanism Vcan ,accommodate can be Vtwo or more. Suitable adjustments and a control assembly Afor each press can be provided.L

trol mechanism' and positioning devices described in the foregoing paragraphs.

Although the particular engraving operation described herein involves the use of ink,` I contemplate that the same system can be Vused also for applying gold leaf or othermaterial to the engr-aved image. The specimen also can'be plastic or any other material suitable forA an en- -graving operation.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my Y invention, what I elaim'and desiredto secure by U.S.

. Letters Patent is;

'1. In an automatic feeder for Vya press capable of delivering sheet specimens from a first station to a second Ystation and from av second `station to a third station, a

frame, a-'pair of endless chains'v encircling said frame in substantially parallel relationship, a pair of drive wheel meansv yrotatably mounted atY one ye'rnlof'said frame' for drivably supporting -said chains, a. pairof idlerv wheel means-rotatably mounted `at the other end of said frame for supporting and guidingV said chains, a motor, a torque v transmission kmechanism between said motor and vsaid or key on'the sprocket wheel 52 and 54`iby means of springs 2nd. Thus a limited degree of longitudinal adjustment of one chain with respect tothe other can beiobtained after the forward-bar 164 on a platformY 162 enl driving wheel means adaptedtoV deliver kcontinuous driving ,torque to vsaid driving wheel means,v a bar carried by 'saidY chains in transverse lrelationship witlirespect to the directionV of motion of saidchainS, a'stop, a movable memberV supporting said 'stop inthe pathof motion of said bar, the motion of said chainsbeing interrupted upon engagement of said bar with said stop,meansV for locking This would require only a duplicate of the consaid movable member to inhibit its motion, control means for releasing said locking means in response to movement of cyclically operated portions of said press, gripper means carried by said bar for securing one of said specimens toy said chains whereby it is conveyed from said one station to said second station, the aforesaid interruption of the motion of said chain occurring when said specimen reaches said second station, blocker members located adjacent said one station, friction rollers in engagement with said specimen for continuously urging said specimen into engagement with said blocker members, -a pivoted lever, said blocker members being movably mounted upon said pivoted lever and means for moving said lever to retract said blocker bars when said gripper means pass said one station thereby permitting said specimen to be urged forward into said gripper means.

2. In an automatic feeder for a press capable of deliveringr sheet specimens from a iirst station to a second station and from a second station to a third station, a frame, a pair of endless chains encircling said frame in substantially parallel relationship, a pair of drive wheel means rotatably mounted at one end of said frame for drivably supporting said chains, a pair of idler wheel means rotatably mounted at -the other end of said frame for supporting and guiding said chains, a motor, a torque transmission mechanism between said motor and said driving wheel means adapted to deliver continuous driving torque to said driving wheel means, a bar carried by said chains in transverse relationship with respect to the direction of motion of said chains, a stop, a movable member supporting said stop in the path of motion of said bar, the motion of said chains being interrupted upon engagement of said bar with said stop, means for locking said movable member to inhibit its motion, control means for releasing said locking means in response to movement of cyclically operated portions of said press, gripper means carried by said bar for securing one of said specimens to said chains whereby it is conveyed from said one station to said second station, the aforesaid interruption of the motion of said chain occurring when said specimen reaches said second station, means carried by :said frame for releasing said gripper means and depositing said specimen as the gripper means is moved by said chains past said third station, a first guide roller carried by said frame at said first station adjacent one of said chains, said guide rollers engaging the end of said bar as the latter passes through said rst station whereby accurate indexing of said specimen with respect to said chains is accomplished and a second guide roller located adjacent said second station and adapted to register said specimen relative to said frame as the motion of the specimen is interrupted.

3. In an automatic feeder for a press capable of delivering sheet specimens from a first station to a second station and from a second station to a third station, a frame, a pair of endless chains encircling said frame in substantially parallel relationship, a pair of drive wheel means rotatably mounted at one end of said frame for drivably supporting said chains, a pair of idler wheel means rotatably mounted at the other end of said frame for supporting and guiding said chains, a motor, a torque transmission mechanism between said motor and said driving Wheel means adapted to deliver continuous drivlng torque to said driving wheel means, a bar carried by said chains in transverse relationship with respect to the direc-tion of motion of said chains, a stop, a movable member supporting said stop in the path of motion of said bar, the motion of said chains being interrupted upon engagement of said bar with said stop, means for locking said movable member to inhibit its motion, control means for releasing said locking means in response to movement of cyclically operated portions of said press, gripper means carried by said bar for securing one of said specimens to said chains whereby it is conveyed from said one station to said second station, the aforesaid interd0 ruption of the motion of said chain occurring when said specimen reaches said second station, blocker members located adjacent said one station, friction rollers in engagement with s-aid specimen for continuously urging said specimen into engagement with said blocker members, a pivoted lever, said blocker members being movably mounted upon said pivoted lever and means for moving said lever to retract said blocker bars when said gripper means pass said one station thereby permitting said specimen to be urged forward into said gripper means, a first guide yroller carried by said frame at said rst station adjacent one of said chains, said guide rollers engaging the end of said bar as the latter passes through said first station whereby accurate indexing of said specimen with respect to said -chains is accomplished and a second guide roller located adjacent said second station and adapated to register s-aid specimen relative to said frame as the motion of the specimen is interrupted.

4. An apparatus for sequentially feeding work-pieces to a printing press, which press has a pair of normally separated printing elements providing a printing area between them, one of said elements being cyclically movable to and from said area to produce an impression upon a workpiece disposed thereat: said feeding apparatus comprising conveyor means disposable in co-operative relation to said printing area and adapted to serially receive the workpiece; driving mechanism `for said conveyer means adapted to impart continuous forwand motion thereto whereby the work-pieces may be sequentially transported across the printing area; means engageable by lthe conveyer as each work-piece reaches a co-operative position relative to said area whereby to effect a temporary interruption of the conveyor movement so that the pieces may -be stationary a-t the time 'of their engagement by the movable printing element; means readily precisely adjustable during continued functioning of the apparatus to accurately vary the position of said movement-interrupting means and thus alter the point at which such interrupting means is engaged by the conveyer, whereby to exactly control the location on the work-pieces of the impressions produced thereon by said printing element; and means operable by the press to render said movement-interrupting means ineffective at the conclusion of the printing operation, whereby movement of the conveyor may Ibe resumed.

5. An apparatus for sequentially feeding work-pieces to a printing press, which press has a pair of normally separated printing elements providing a printing area between them, one of said elements being cyclically movable to and from said area to produce an impression upon a work-piece disposed thereat: said feeding apparatus comprising conveyer means disposable in co-operative relation to said printing area and adapted to serially receive the work-pieces; driving mechanism for said conveyer means adapted to impart continuous forward motion thereto whereby the work-pieces may be sequentially transported across the printing area; means engageaible by the conveyer as each work-piece reaches a co-operative position relative to said area and arranged to effect a temporary interruption of the conveyer movement whereby the piece-s .may be stationary at the time of their engagement by the cyclically functioning printing element; means for accuratley controlling and volitionally varying the location on the Work-pieces of the impression produced thereon by the said printing element, comprising means readily adjustable during continued functioning of the apparatus to precisely vary the path of travel of the work-pieces to the printing area in a direction transversely of such path, whereby to exactly vary and control the transverse position of the pieces in relation to said area when engaged by the cyclically functioning printing element; and means operable by the press at the conclusion of its printnig operation to rende-r said movement-interrupting means ineffective, whereby movement of the conveyer may be resumed.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for the Work-piece carrying portions of the conveyermeans in a direction transversely of the movement of the con-V veyer.

said apparatus7 an adjustable block member fixed on said rail means, screw adjusting means threadably connected to said block member, and a body member slidably disposed on said rail means `and carrying said movement-interrupting means and yoperatively connected to said adjusting means for slidable movement thereby. ,f

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said transverse directing means are carried by said lbody member andv 7. The apparat-us of claim 6 wherein said longitudinal Y adjustment means` includes lguide rail means secured to Y Y 12 i include a. transverse screw adjusting means; threadably connected to said body memberrand operatively connected to said directin-gmeans to move vit transversely a predetermined distan'ce;

Reerences'Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/10 Stande vl 271-50 X 993,613 5/1-1 Morrison Q. lOl-316 10 1,212,242 1/17 NCViCk 271-'46 X 1,775,029 9/130 Hippenmcyer 193-203 X 1,821,664 9/-31 PeilerV 198-202 Y y2,444,170 6/24 Sabel et al. j i

5 ROBERT PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

4. AN APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY FEEDING WORK-PIECES TO A PRINTING PRES, WHICH PRESS HAS A PAIR OF NORMALLY SEPARATED PRINTING ELEMENTS PROVIDING A PRINTING AREA BETWEEN THEM, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING CYCLICALLY MOVABLE TO AND FROM SAID AREA TO PRODUCE AN IMPRESSION UPON A WORK PIECE DISPOSED THEREAT: SAID FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING CONVEYOR MEANS DISPOSABLE IN CO-OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID PRINTING AREA AND ADAPTED TO SERIALLY RECEIVE THE WORKPIECE; DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SAID CONVEYOR MEANS ADAPTED TO IMPART CONTINUOUS FORWARD MOTION THERETO WHEREBY THE WORK-PIECES MAY BE SEQUENTIALLY TRANSPORTED ACROSS THE PRINTING AREA; MEANS ENGAGEABLE BY THE CONVEYER AS EACH WORK-PIECE REACHES A CO-OPERATIVE POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID AREA WHEREBY TO EFFECT A TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION OF THE CONVEYOR MOVEMENT SO THAT THE PIECES MAY 